Peter Clapp ’56

ClappPeter Dudley Clapp died at his home on Monday, November 10, 2014, at the age of 78.

Peter was born in Framingham, MA. He graduated from Williston Academy in Easthampton, MA, attended Dennison University in Ohio, Clark University in Worcester, MA and served in the United States Army.

He was President and CEO of Stafford Iron Works in Worcester, MA.

After retiring in 1996, he and his wife, Brenda moved to Marco Island. Peter loved music and had been involved with many choral groups, both in New England and the Marco Island area. He was a former vice-president of the Marco’s Men’s Club, a member of the Marco Island Historical Society, and past member and instructor of the Marco Island Sail and Power Squadron. He was an active member of the Wesley United Methodist Church where he served as a choir member, soloist, and hymn leader.

Peter is survived by his wife, Brenda ( Booth) Clapp; their daughter, Hilary (Derek) Kreitenstein; three grandchildren, Jonathan, Alexandra, and Samantha, as well as his brother Gerald; and sister, Janet (Clapp) Mortenson.

He was preceded in death by his son, Jonathan Welles Clapp.

Frank Lemanski ’52

Frank S. Lemanski, 82, formerly of Paradise Drive, Easthampton, passed away peacefully Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2104, at Genesis Health Care Center in Westfield.

Frank was born Dec. 2, 1931, in Northampton, son of the late Walter E. and Stella (Boltz) Lemanski. He was educated at the former Sacred Heart of Jesus School, a graduate of Williston Academy both in Easthampton, and had attended Springfield Technical College.

Frank was a U.S. veteran of the Korean War.

He was employed for many years at the Douglas Galleries in Deerfield. Frank was a communicant of the former Sacred Heart of Jesus Church for most of his life, and now a communicant of Our lady of the Valley Parish in Easthampton. He was a member of the American Legion Dalton LaVallee Post 224 and had been a Little League coach in Easthampton for several years.

Frank leaves his caring brother Chester Lemanski of Colorado Springs, Colorado; his loving four nieces and nephew, Stella McVicker, Vera Broyles, Carol Breen, Kathleen Bachand and Walter Lemanski; his adored grandniece and nephew Catherine Breen and her friend Matt Thomas and Donald Breen, his wife Christina and their daughter Ella. Frank was predeceased by his beloved siblings Celia Torrey, Stanley Lemanski and Walter E. Lemanski.

James Petrosky ’68

petroskyJames J. Petrosky, 64, of Windsor, passed away at his home on Monday, August 25, 2014.

He was the loving husband of Theresa (Wydra) Petrosky for 30 years.

Born on February 13, 1950 in New Britain CT, to Bernice (Mahoney) Petrosky and the late Joseph Petrosky, he grew up in Burlington and has been a Windsor resident since 1994.

James proudly served his country in the U.S. Air National Guard for over 6 years. He enjoyed woodworking and fishing. He retired after many years of working as a mechanical engineer.

In addition to his wife Theresa and his mother Bernice Petrosky of Ft. Meyers, FL; he is survived by his daughter Carly Fortin and her husband Alan of Southington; two grandchildren, Emerson and Alexis; his two sisters, Arlene Franchini and her husband Phil of Ft. Meyers, FL and Joan Clifford of Westfield, MA and many nieces and nephews.

John Paul Rutherford Falconer ’43

John FaulconerJohn Paul Rutherford (Rudd) Falconer died peacefully at his Big Rock Road oasis on July 21, 2014, in his 89th year.

Rudd was born in Seneca Falls, New York on Aug. 24, 1925. He was the eldest child of Navy Captain Jonathan Paul and Eloise (Brown) Falconer and the grandson of one of the first woman doctors in New York State, Dr. C. Anna Brown. He grew up in the Finger Lakes area of upstate New York. Cayuga Lake was his stomping grounds and perhaps the reason he was most happy living by large bodies of water. Fresh or salty, it didn’t matter, as long as he could sail on it or catch fish from it.

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Jacqueline Bemis Burns ’61

Jacqueline BemisJacqueline Bemis Burns of Falls Church, Virginia died on Monday, September 29, 2014.

“Jackie” was born on August 23, 1943 and grew up in Manhasset, New York before settling in the Washington, DC area in the 1960’s.

She was passionate about natural health and her work with essential oils. A lifelong animal lover, she was devoted to her pets, and showed her Basenji dogs to championships. Music, dancing, laughter and sharing great meals filled her joyful spirit.

She is the loving mother of Laura Wilson Burns Macone (husband Gian) and James Andrew Bemis Burns; sister of Harold Nyall Bemis; and grandmother of David Tanner Burns and Audrey Mary Wilson Macone.

Winslow Spofford ’52

Winslow SpoffordWinslow M. Spofford, 80, passed away on Tuesday, November 4, 2014 at UMass Memorial Medical Center, Worcester.

He was born May 26, 1934 in Holden and was a life-long resident. He attended Holden High School and graduated from Williston Academy in Easthampton. He earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. While at WPI, he was an enthusiastic member of the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity. He regularly attended high school and college reunions and greatly enjoyed reconnecting with his friends during these times.

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David Ming-Li Lowe ’54

David LoweDavid Ming-Li Lowe ’54, passed away on September 24, 2013, in Los Angeles, California.

Born in Shanghai to a father who was a foreign-service officer for the Chinese Nationalist Party, the Kuomingtang, and a graduate of the University of Chicago, David was educated in Calcutta, India, Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the U.S., and was, in his early years, “a mirror of the political, social, and economic make-up of my diplomat parents.”

At the encouragement of his older brother, David enrolled at Reed. “My two years at Reed were years of change and discovery. For someone as naive as I, secluded from society by gated prep schools, the freedom of action, the newly made acquaintance of the other sex, and the involvement of weightier issues all helped to form the person I am today.”

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John Loeb ’37

John LoebJohn Eric Loeb, 95, of Branford, passed away on October 28, 2014.

He was born August 11, 1919 in New Haven, son of Adeline Klein Loeb and Morton Loeb.

He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Rhoda Leshine Loeb and his son Michael (Riva) of Toronto and sister Prudence of Walpole, MA.

John attended Hopkins and Williston Academy. He graduated from Franklin and Marshall College.

He was a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force during WWII, stationed in Guam. John was an Editor of the Branford Review and President of The Branford Printing Company. He was a member of the Branford Rotary Club and the New Haven and Branford Historical Societies. He was one of the foremost collectors of antique candle snuffers. In his retirement years his primary focus was the development and administration of the Annual Blackstone Library Book Drive. John lived a long, healthy life and shared his intelligence, wit, charm, and good humor with family and friends.

He will be missed.

Kendall Lewis ’39

Kendall LewisKendall Lewis died peacefully, after a brief illness, on Thursday, October 30, at Piper Shores in Scarborough, ME.

Mr. Lewis was born in Abington, PA, the son of James McKeen Lewis and Alice Kendall Lewis. He first met his wife of nearly 66 years, Betsey Converse Lewis, when they were both teenagers living in Stony Creek, CT.

Mr. Lewis graduated from Williston Academy in 1939, and went on to Yale College, but left to serve in the Navy during World War II. His service was mostly in the Pacific aboard the light cruiser, the USS Denver. After the war he returned to Yale and completed his degree in Industrial Engineering, graduating as a member of the class of 1943. During the war Mr. Lewis re-encountered Betsey Converse and asked for her hand. They were married on December 4, 1948 at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in New Haven, CT.

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Sylvia Canfield Winn ’49

Sylvia WinnSylvia Canfield Winn, 83, of Concord, MA passed away in her sleep on November 3, 2014

Active, vibrant, and expressing everyday appreciations to her family even on her last evening, Sylvia was full of life. People remember her as beautiful, self-deprecating, entertaining, a wonderful listener, graceful, and always elegantly dressed in clothes she made for herself. She was a source of positive energy that drew people to her.

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